Combination transport coffin and casket



Sept. 30, 1952 N. ETTEN ETAL 2,611,946

COMBINATION TRANSPORT COFFIN AND CASKET Filed April 10, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TORS Qjezz/ Sept. 30, 1952 N. L. ETTEN ET AL COMBINATION TRANSPORT COFFIN AND CASKET Filed April 10, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS 11%; %@11 i fmffi Sept. 30, 1952 N. ETTEN ETAL COMBINATION TRANSPORT COF'F'IN AND CASKET 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 10, 1946 A l N V EN TORS Zfi0 Z05 [ii /e22 rfafizz Mjeaci W Sept. 30, 1952 N. ETTEN ETAL 2,611,946

COMBINATION TRANSPORT COFFIN AND CASKET Filed April 10, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TORS p 1952 N. ETTEN ET AL 2,611,946

COMBINATION TRANSPORT COFF'IN AND CASKET Filed April 10, 1946 5 Sheetrs-Sheet 5 IN VEN TORS' Patented Sept. 30, 1952 I Nicholas L. Etten, Waterloo, 16w I I Beaclnfirand Rapids, Micki- I Application'Api-il '10, 1946, Serial No. 1,141

TIZIT.

j' Ihis invention relatesto" a sealedutilitarian'" mime w ig-6 transport cofiin for human bodies incomb'ination' with an esthetic casket covering which may readily be applied to and be supported on the cofiin. Although. the devicehas wider application, it will be described as applied to the prob-- lernof transporting bodies of soldiers from for- I ei'gn lands and burying them in homeland ceme- I teries.

"The problem 'of providing 'proper' means-n transfer the bodies of soldiers from foreignfl'andsj" involves the following considerations:

A."The coffin should be. light inweight, nor? mally airtight and be readilypermanently hermetically scalable.

B. It should be capable, of effective stacking in shipping bundles .without the necessity for boxing or crating.

C. It should be easilyihandle'cl by carrying orY skidding either singly or stacks.

D'; It should be readilylvconvertible' utilitarian coffin to a conventional es'thetic bur-'- ial casket.

The particular objectof the present invention is to provide a light-metalcoflin of great structural strength and resistance to rough handling 5" sasimilar broken end sectional view showing thej headf permanently sealed on the tubular member; i

Fig. 6 s a broken end sectional view of the casket showing the bolting means for telescoping the endfiof the .casketr'nember over the side mem-Q 1 Fig."7"is"an,enlarg'ed brokenside elevation view of the bolting members as they would appear on the sectionilines l- -"l, Fig.6; 7 I I Fig. 8 is an isometric view of the nut holding member variously used in the cofiin and casket structure as will later be explained; v I

Fig. 9 iisa transverse cross sectional view of four stacked cofiins secured together by straps as a shipping bundle;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged end elevation view of the casket partlyinsection to show the relationship of the casket membersjto'the coffin;

Fig. lli's aside elevation view of the finished casket; A.

Fig. 12 isa t in Fig. 11; and 7 I Fig. 13 is an endelevation view thereof.

Now referring to the drawings and at the outset to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, our utilitarian cofiin memwhich may be transported to and from foreign burial grounds while securely nested in multiple lots 'as a shipping package without the necessity for, boxing or crating- Another object is to provide a light metal cofiin which is normally airtight and which later can be readily and permanently hermetically sealed.

A further object is to provide alight metal coifin. having supporting and protection membersattached thereto in the fform of skids,jinterfitting stacking support members and handles, said members being later utilized to support decorative casket members over the coffin in order to provide the esthetic appearance of a conventional casket.

Other objects and benefitswill be disclosed in the, following descriptions; and 'drayvings in,

which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of a pairoistacked in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a broken end elevation view of a nently hermetically sealed;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged broken end sectional view; showing the removable head mounted onthe end of the tubular coffin member beforeit is p'ermar I J" .ofour tubular member 15. As shownin Fig. '4,

ber is formed-by a tubular member l5 and two closure heads 16 and IT. We prefer to form the'tubular member in anjoval shape because it best'fits the human body. It is supportedagainst crushing vertical [stresses from other cofiins stacked above it by longitudinally extending skid members 18 and Hand coacting longitudinally extending stacking members 20 and 2|. The small radius of the oval tube sides is admirably adapted to withstand sidewise stresses and bumps. It will be observed that the skid members l8 and I9 have ends [8s and I9s formed skidwise to provide unobstructed skidding action. It will further be observed that we have provided a series of transverse openings I and 200 through the skids andstacking members to permit retaining straps to be passed around the .co'fiins when staicked as will later .be explained. We further provide, three handle bracing members 22 onf'each side of the casket and one on the head (6,101 seven in all, to which are bolted handles 23 providing ready means tohandle the cofiin. It will be observed that these handle members" 23 together with the brace members '22 provide effective bumping members which are advantageous when the caskets are stacked.

Now referring to Figs. 4 and 5, we show the construction of the removable head on one end plan view of the casket shown I we form a depressed bead l5b on the end of the tube l5 and a coacting flange Hf on the head H. Interposed between the flange Hi and the bead 15b is a synthetic rubber felt gasket Hg. From the end of the flange 11 we pierce out six narrow slots to provide alternate clamp sections and straight sections, The head I! isplaced on the end of the' cofiin member- 15. Alternate sections of the flange H are hammered down to form clamp sections We. Thus the head is effectively. clamped and sealed to the bead l5b. It will be understood that the head i6 'i's permanently welded in the tubular member i5. The utilitarian retainer members 29t.

and 19 by bolting through appropriate openings. It will, therefore, be appreciated that the side members 26 and 2! are securely mounted on the tubular coflin i5 by bolts through the support members 22 and the skid members [8 and 19.

Now referring to Figs. 6 and 7, we will explain how the casket end membersjiiand 29 are aiiixed to'theisidecasketimembers ZB an'd 2T; On the inside of the end member 29 are aifixed telescoping These telescoping members may be in multiple units to generally foll low thecoritour of :the side members 26 as clearly cofiin is now watertight and, incaseof necessity,

it can be floated in shore from the vessel-to avoid. the necessity of lightering. v l. t a When the coinn is at the graveside and ready to receive the body, the head I! can readilypbe removed by prying up the narrow clamp members i'ic, After the body has been placed in the coilin, A

thefheaddi'is' agaidmountedbn the}. tubular, member 15 and the flange Hf ro'lledl over. .the'. head l 5?: by means of a hand beadingflrollwhereby thejiiange is rolled in position as shownin Fig. 5 'withth'e head'l'iermetically sea ldl onthe tubular member [5. This sealing processw'ill'be done under government supervision andthe .coffih sealed with proper government identification. It is contemplated that tliis-official's'eal-ing, off the coiiin will be a permanent seal an'd'th'at the coffin may.- not againbereopened without government authority. I w

Now referringfto' Fig, 9, we show" a shipping package of four coffinsbound together.- by four steel straps 2'4, each securely tensionedLby lock fastenings 25. It will be observed that'zthe skid members i8' and i 9 are securely positioned the stacking members 213 andZII' withithe iciurQcdfiihs heldin secure abutment by the abutment of v the handles 23 supported on the members 223 It will be observed that the strap 24 passes through the openings we; ISOQZOb'and 21d with the straps bearing on the tubular members? [5. against the outside contours of. thestructu'ral members 18; 19, 29,11, 22 and 231 Thus, multiplelshipping packageswof four coffins each can, be stacked'one on top of the otherforiabutting, the other in an ab'soluteminin um of space. Structural members mounted on the'cofiin not only addgreat struc tural strength but act as eiTectivel-bumpers .t'dpro-i tect the thin. tubular .coffin from shipping dam,-

age. 1 It will, therefore: be appreciated that in. our, utilitarian cofiin, we have provided a maxif mum of strengthwith minimumof'weightwith.

provisions for stacking-the .cof iniinaneirctive shipping jpa'c'kageoffminimum diinensions- Nowreferringito Figs. 10, 11"}'12fand"'l3; we.a show our cofii'n' covering mem'bersare mounted overthe undecoratiye c'oiii'n to form an esth'etic, oaslr'etj ,The coffi'n covering members consist'of two side members or panels 2G and 27, two end members or panels 28' and 29: and a cover member or panel'30. Although thisis'af preferred construction; variations are possible .With out departing from the spirit off the-inven tion. As shown in Fig." ljOj" the side 'mem berl 2:6. is ,mounted in abutting; relationship with thememben 22 by bolt and washer mem" bers asshown. Itlwilllbeobserved that when the handle 23is mounted o v erthecasket' side" m'ember 2G, the' handle is'reversedito present; the

rolled'handle section 23h outwardly. The'b'ottom flanges of the side members 25' and 21 are fur"- ther supported by a plurality, ofbrace members 36 mounted on the longitudinal skid members I8 shown in Fig. 10. Because of the irregular shape onthejoining members, the coaction of the end ';-'1nembers -29 and 29t'with the side member 26 will efiectively align the two members while the telescoping member-tilt will hold the edge of the end member 29 in flat alignment with the side member 26 as clearly shown in Fig. 6. Two pairs of drawscrew brackets 3l'and 32 are mountedon th'e'memb'ers26and'29"onenear.the top 'and'orie nearthe Tb'ottomoffthemembers: Through each. bracket" isimounted a draw'screw 33 which enters:

asquare nut35 retainedfin a 'retainercap 34; as

clearly sliown in Fig. 81' The nut 35'isonly'loosely hel'din the retainer cap Siwhich may be'gben ti. to retain the nutormaymerely cover the"nut,' andthe opening'34h infit isconsiderably larger (than thescrew 33 in order to provide clearance" so that fine tolerances areno't required; thus Spermitting'the partsi'zfi and"29jto b e rdrawnisecurelyf' together with the'parts 2 61and'2 Q in perfect alignment; Now againreferring toiFig. IOZweuse the sam'e'design" of nut retainer bracket'fl to held": the nuts loosely in position andfto' avoid. the ne-' cessity of fine alignment. between the handle 23,

the side member 26 and its abutting j support" member 22. It will, therefore, bei'observed an'd appreciated that" we have" provided?structure.

whereby, the parts of our.coffin'and'estheticcasket can be a'ccuratelyassembled"in relation to each other'withoutthe necessity of accurate fitting of the bolting parts. Therefore, the casketcan"be assembled'on the cofiin'a'nd the handle reversed in ayminimum" of time andwith' a minimum of labor:

Now "referring to Figs: '11; f 12: and 13, it will be} observed that 1' the handles 23 have been"cov'e'red with decorative members 230. These decorative" members 230 are made of light'metal formedto have'rearward extensionli not shown) which coact wi ththe roll handle member 2372, and 'the'upper" extending lip 23zffbeing' snapped securely over the handle 23 to provide a covering having. a'decorative appearance eeping withthe'esthetic appearance of the assembled casket;

been reversed when the estheti'c' casketfcovering members are mounted, therefore, the finished. l'landles with th'ecov'erings23c are'moun'tediin artistic relation with the casket."

Now again referring to Fig. l0',.it"wil1 beobself-tappingscrews 30s to 'tie all the casket miem bers together in a unitary Sign.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated'that" we have provided 'a' light weight met-a1 cofiinof great utilitarian value which may be securely stacked together'inshipping packages and transa ported witha minimum of weight and space and that this utilitarian ccfiin" carries structural members whereby casket members -may"-be" Weihave already pointed'out'that the handlesf zihave' casket of 'estheti'c "dc;

mounted thereon to provide an esthetic casket of conventional design.

Having thus explained our invention, we now claim as new:

1. In a burial receptacle for the human body, a thin flexible metal tubular sealable coflin, structural support members attached along the length of the coifin adjacent its upper and lower surfaces, coffin-enclosing casket-forming members in the form of attachable panels, and means for attaching the casket-forming members to said cofiin to give it the appearance of a burial casket.

2. In a burial receptacle for the human body, a thin flexible metal tubular coflin, handle attaching means on the sides of said coffin, handles removably connected to said means, a plurality of casket-forming members, structural stifiening support members positioned along each upper and lower side of said cofiin and to certain of which said casket-forming members are attachable, said handle attaching means being adapted to extend through certain of said casket-forming members whereby in the assembled condition of said cofi'm and casket-forming members said handles may be attached eXter-iorly of said casket-forming members to brace and reinforce the latter.

-3. In a burial receptacle for the human body, a generally tubular coffin, a plurality of casketforming panels attachable to said cofiin, structural support members afiixed to the coffin, means for securing the casket-forming panels to the structural support members, said casketforming panels comprising two side panels, two

end panels interfittingly connected to said side panels, and a top panel attached to and interconnecting the side and end panels, said panels in their attached condition encompassing all sides of said coffin except its bottom and giving to said coflin a casket-like appearance.

4. Ina burial receptacle for the human body, a tubular coffin, a plurality of casket-forming panels attachable to said cofiin, structural support members aifixed to the cofiin, means for securing the casket-forming panels to the structural support members, handle attaching means disposed in aligned rows on each side of said coffin, handles removably attached to said means, said casket-forming panels comprising two side panels, two end panels interfitti-ngly connected to the side panels and a top panel attached to and interconnecting the side and end panels, said panels in their attached condition encompassing all sides of said coffin except its bottom and giving to said ooflln a casket-like appearance, said handle attaching means being adapted to extend through certain of said panels whereby said handles may be removed and after assembly of the coflin and panels attached exterior-1y of said panels to reinforce the same, and decorative pieces attachable to said handles in keeping with the appearance of said panels.

5. In a burial receptacle for the human body, a thin metal tubular coffin, coin-enclosing cas ket-forming members, structural support members aflfixed to the tubular coflin providing means to skid and support the cofiin and to support the casket-"forming members, and means to attach the casket-forming members to the structural support members to enclose the coftln.

6. In a burial receptacle for the human body, a tubular and scalable cofiin, cofiin enclosing casket-forming members in the form of interconnectable side, end and top panels, and means for attaching said panels to said coffin to give the coffin the appearance of a burial casket.

'7. In a burial receptacle for the human body, a tubular and scalable coffin, reinforcing members aflixed to the underside of said cofl'in to also function as skids, coflin-enclosin-g casket-forming members, and means to attach the casket-forming members to the coflin to give the coffin the appearance of a burial casket, said reinforcing members extending slightly below the lowermost part of said casket-forming members to support the entire assembly.

NICHOLAS L. E'ITEN. JOHN M. BEACH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 69,596 Van Houten Oct. 8, 1867 623,273 Brown Apr. 18, 1899 925,533 Topol June 22, 1909 1,093,324 Gillespie Apr. 14, 1914 1,316,949 Hall Sept. 23, 1919 1,421,018 Mesker June 27, 1922 1,681,337 Grund Aug. 21, 1928 2,368,781 Rose Feb. 6, 1945 2,385,407 Endress Sept. 25, 1945 2,408,616 Eldredge Oct. 1, 1946 2,409,750 Frear Oct. 22, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country I Date 17,056 Great Britain July 18, 1910 l 

